QuickCheck: Is there a place you can buy fresh fish for only 20sen apiece?

PROTEIN sources don’t exactly come cheap these days, and savvy shoppers have been scouring wet markets, neighbourhood shops, hypermarkets and even supermarkets for bargains.

Certain kinds of fish are still a viable budget-friendly option, but it seems one seafood vendor has taken affordability to extremes – and is selling fresh whole fish at only 20sen each.

Is this true?

VERDICT:

TRUE

A vendor in Kuala Terengganu’s Kepong Market has made a splash in the community by selling ikan selayang (mackerel scad) for just 20sen apiece, giving the people there a highly affordable protein source.

Wan Ahmad Suhaimi Wan Abd Kadir, 43, said he was doing so to help the public, especially the less fortunate, save on household expenses.

Bernama reports that his low price point for the fish is also part of a campaign to promote seafood sales at the market, which had been out of operation for some time.

“I’m offering 4,800kg of ikan selayang today (Friday, Nov 15). Customers are welcome to buy as many as they like.

“InsyaAllah, we will maintain the price of 20sen per fish daily, so customers don’t have to worry about getting affordable protein for their families,” he said when interviewed.

Wan Ahmad Suhaimi opens shop daily from 6.30am to 2pm and has about 20 workers.

On Friday, however, customers began queuing as early as 6am when word of the cheap fish spread.

Other seafood such as ikan merah (red snapper), tenggiri (mackerel), ikan kerisi (threadfin bream), squid and shrimp are also available, he said.

“Every Saturday, we plan to offer ikan selar (yellowtail scad) at a discounted price,” added Wan Ahmad Suhaimi, who gets his fish from Endau near Mersing in Johor, and Kuantan, Pahang.